Price-scale.



No. 655.899. Patented Aug. I4, 1900;

- .Fi FULLER.

PRICE SCALE.

(Application filedsenh' 15, 1899. Renewed Juna 15, 1900.) (lo Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet l.

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TNE nonms PETERS co, wu'ruumn. WASNINGTON, n. c

Patented Aug. I4, 1900.

F. L. FULLER.

PRICE SCALE.

(Application filed Sept. 15, 1899. Renewed June 15, 1900.\

(No Model.)

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TATES NITED uric.

PRICE-SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,899, dated August14, 1900.

Application filed September 15, 1899. Renewed June 15, 19 00. Serial No.20,453. (No model.)

T0 or whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. FULLER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Trenton,county of Mercer, and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Price-Scales, fullydescribed and represented in the following specification and'theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in the computing or indicatingmechanism of my prior Letters Patent, dated May 3, 1898,the obj ect ofthe present invention, generally stated, being to adapt the inclinedcontrolling member or actuator of said Letters Patent to weighing-scalesof the type commonly known as beam-scales.

As a full understanding of the improvements constituting the presentinvention can best be given bya detailed description of an organizationembodying the same, such description will now be given, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a front elevationof I a beamscale equipped with the improvements constituting the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the upperportion of the same, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is across-section of the same, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is avertical section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectiontaken on line 5 f Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 ofFig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a detail, on an enlarged scale, of a grip forconnecting the actuator and poise, so that the two will move togetherduring the Weighing operation.

Referring to said drawings, 1 represents the base of the scale, 2 theside standards, and 3 a tubular top frame supported thereby and which,as will hereinafter appear, contains the inclined controlling member oractuator of the present invention, and which also supports a hood orcasing 4, containing indicating devices actuated thereby and therate-adjusting devices whereby said indicating devices and actuator maybe relatively adjusted in accordance with variations in the rates perpound or other unit of-Weight of the articles to be weighed. The scaleis provided with a beam 5, fulcrumed at 6 and provided at its rear endwith the usual adj usting-poise 7 and at its forward end with aweight-scale 8, bearing a weight-poise 9, and with a tare-scale 10,bearing a tare-poise 11. The scale-beam 5 is also provided with theusual means, as 12, by which it is connected to the usual leverssupporting the platform 13 of the scale.

So far as the parts thus far described are concerned they form ofthemselves no part of the present invention, and they need not thereforebe further described herein.

The indicating or computing mechanismof the present invention consistsof a longitudinally-movable inclined controlling member or actuator 14and a vertically-movable rackbar 15, actuated thereby and which in turnactuates, through connections which willbe hereinafter described,indicating devices consisting of pointers 16 17, coacting with dialsrepresenting, respectively, dollars and cents. The actuator 14 ismounted in the tubular top frame 3, so as to slide therein upon guides18 19, and is inclined longitudinally or in the direction of itsmovement, so as to actuate the rack-bar 15, and through it theindicating devices, a distance corresponding to the extent of itsmovement, and is also inclined in a transverse direction, as best shownin Figs. 3 and 4, so that its longitudinal inclination willvary-progressively transversely to suit variations in the unit prices ofthe articles weighed. The rack bar 15 is adjustable transversely to theinclined actuator 14 and faces of the hood 4, the object of suchadjustment being to position the rack-bar 15 relatively to the inclinedactuator 14, so as to set it for operation thereby in accordance withthe rate per pound or other unit of weight of the article weighed.Manuallyoperated means are provided for so adjusting the rackbar 15,consisting of a shaft 22, journaled in the casing 3 and provided with aspiral camgroove 23, which receives a pin or stud 24, carried by asleeve 25, secured to the lower end of the guide 20, the result of thisconstruction being that as the shaft 22 is rotated the cam-groove 23,engaging the pin 24, will move the guide 20, and with it the rack-bar15, transversely to the inclined actuator 14, the extent of suchmovement of adjustment depending upon the rate or unit price of thearticle to be weighed. For convenience the shaft 22 is provided with athumb-piece 26, by which it may be rotated, and said thumbpiece is inturn provided with apointer 27, coacting with a dial 28, representingunits of price from zero to sixty cents. For the purpose of limiting themovement of the shaft 22 and parts connected therewith a stop or pin 28is provided adapted to engage the pointer 27 in zero position or at theopposite end of the gradnations on the dial and prevent the movement ofsaid pointer and of the shaft 22 beyond either of these positions, thuspreventing injury to the shaft 22 or the parts actuated thereby shouldan attempt be made to rotate the shaft 22 beyond these points. Therack-bar 15 engages a broad pinion 29, fast upon the shaft 39, carryingthe pointer 16, which coacts with the dollar-dial 31, and said shaft 30is also provided with a gear 32, engaginga pinion 33, fast upon theshaft 34, hearing the cents-pointer 17, which coacts with the cents-dial35. It will be understood that as the rack-bar 15 is moved vertically itwill, because of its engagement with pinion 29, rotate the shaft 30 anddollar-pointer 16 and, through gear 32 and pinion 33, also rotate theshaft 34 and the cents-pointer 17, the gearing between the shafts 39 and34 being such as to secure a one-half revolution of the shaft 34 andcents pointer 17 during the movement of the dollar-pointer 16 from zeroposition to the numeral 1, or from one numeral to the next adjacentnumeral upon the face of the dial 31. The cents-dial 35 is provided, aswill be observed, with two sets of graduations following each other,each running from 0 to 99.

The inclined actuator 14 and poise 9 are designed to move together, andfor this reason the two are connected by the following devices: Upon itsunder side the actuator 14 is provided with a projection 36, extendinginto a groove between the dials 18 19 and having secured to it by meansof screws 37 a block 38, bearing a grip consisting of jaws 39, pivotedthereto and extending downwardly so as to embrace a pin 40, projectingfrom the poise 9, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 7. At their lower endsthe jaws 39 are provided with projections or thumb-pieces 41, by whichsaid jaws may be moved inwardly toward each other into proper relationto the pin to engage the latter and through it move the poise 9 alongthe beam 8 during the weighing operation. The engagement between thejaws 39 and the pin 40 for the purpose of so moving the poise is such asto maintain the poise and the inclined actuator 14 in such relation toeach other as to insure the movement of the actuator and the poiseduring the weighing operation to exactly the same extent, the engagementbetween the jaws 39 and the poise 9, however, being loose, so as topermit vertical movement or play of the poise 9 and beam 8 relatively tothe actuator during the weighing operation and as the beam 8 isbalanced. In order to prevent binding or pinching contact between thejaws 39 and the pin 40, which would interfere with such vertical play ofthe poise and .beam, the block 38 is provided with a pin or stop 42,projecting between the adjacent faces of the jaws 39 above the pin 40,this pin 42 being slightly largerin diameter than the pin 40, so as tolimit the movements inwardly toward each other of the jaws 3.9,and thusprevent their coming into binding or pinching contact with the pin 40,while permitting them to come into such relation thereto as to insurethe proper movement to the same extent of the actuator and poise duringthe weighing operation. Between the jaws 39 and below the pin 40 isinterposed a spring 43, the purpose of which is to force the jaws awayfrom each other while the scale is at rest or upon the release of thethumb pieces 41 by the attendant upon the completion of a weighingoperation. The jaws 39 are provided at their upper ends with stops 44,which engage a flange 45 on block 38, so as to limit the outwardmovement of the jaws 39 by the spring 43.

The operation of the scale is as follows: If it be desired to indicatethe cost or price of the article being weighed, the rack-bar 15 will beadjusted to the proper position transversely to the actuator 14 byrotation of the thumb-piece 26 and shaft- 22 until the pointer 27,carried thereby, reaches the numeral on the dial 28 representing theunit price of the article weighed. As the thumbpiece 20 and shaft 22 arethus rotated the cam-groove 23, engaging the pin 24, will move thesleeve 25, guide 20, and the rack bar 15 transversely to the actuator14, and the rack-bar as it is thus moved is brought into engagement withgradually-increasing inclined portions of such actuator. hen therack-bar is thus adjusted, the scale is ready for the weighing andpriceindicating operations. To perform these operations, the attendantwill move and hold the jaws 39 inwardly toward each other as far as thestop or pin 42 will permit and then move the poise 9 along the beam 8 tothe proper position, as in any weighing operation, the actuator beingalso moved to the same extent relatively to the beam 8. As the actuator14 is thus moved its inclined face engaging the rack-bar 15 will elevatethe same to an extent dependent upon the extent of movement of theactuator, which in turn is dependent upon the weight of the articleweighed, and thus actuate the indicating devices in accordance with theweight of the article multiplied by the rate per pound thereof, whichrate is represented by the position of the rack-bar15 transversely tothe actuator. If, for example, the unit price of the article weighed bethirty-three cents per pound, the thumb-piece 2G and the shaft 22 willbe rotated until the pointer 27 arrives opposite the graduation on dial28 representing thirty-three cents when the During such rotashaft isbrought to rest.

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tion of the shaft 22 the guide 20 and rack-bar 15 are moved transverselyto the inclined actuator 14 to about the position illustrated in Fig. 3.If the weight of the article be-five pounds, the poise 9 will be movedalong the beam 8 to the graduation 5 thereon, as shown in Fig. 2, theactuator and poise moving together. As the poise 9 and inclined actuator14 are thus moved the latter engaging the rack-bar 15 will raise saidrack-bar to about the position shown in Fig. 2, and thus rotate thepointers 16 17 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1that is tosay, with the dollar-pointer 16 between the numerals 1 and 2 on dial 31and the cents-pointer'17 at the numeral in the second set of graduationson dial 35. If the unit price be greater than thirty-three cents, therack-bar 13 will of course be adjusted beyond the po-. sition in whichit is shown in Fig. 8, and if it be less it will of course be brought torest before it reaches the thirty-three-cents posi tion. As the poise 9approaches the graduation on scale-beam 8 at which the latter balancesthe poise 9 and scale-beam 8 are, because of the loose connectionheretofore described between said poise and the inclined actuator 14,free to move or play vertically relatively to the jaws 39 and saidactuator.

In order to retain the rack-bar 15 in engagement with the actuator 14, asegment 46 is provided, pivoted in the hood 4 and having a weight 47,which segment engages a pinion 48, fast to the shaft 34, and thusresists upward movement of the rack-barl5 and retains it in properrelation to the actuator 14 for operation thereby. Means are alsoprovided in the present case for retaining the thumbpiece 26 and shaft22 in the position to which they are adjusted at different times, the'means provided consisting of a toothed wheel 49 upon the shaft 22, whichis engaged by a detent 50, projecting from a plate 51, screwed to apivoted arm 52 and held yieldingly in engagement with the wheel 49 bymeans of a spring 53, connected to the arm 52 and to the hood or" casing4. Means are also provided in the present case for positively limitingthe movement of the actuator 14 rearwardly or to zero position,consisting of a stop 54 at the end of the guideway on which saidactuator slidesin the top frame 3. Means are also provided in thepresent case for positively arresting the upward movement of theWeighted segment 46 and through it the rotation of the indicatingdevices and upward movement of the rack 15, the means provided for thispurpose consisting of a stop 55, mounted in the hood 4 and adapted toengage the upper edge of the arm of segment 46 when the latter is movedupwardly by the rotation of shaft 34 and pinion 48.

The pointers and dials heretofore referred to for indicating the rateand price or cost of the articles weighed are located on the attendantsside of the machine; but like point-- ers and dials are provided alsoupon the opposite or customers side of the machine. The indications ofweight on scale-beam 8 will preferably also be repeated upon thecustomers side of the machine.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limitedto the precise construction and arrangement of devices shown anddescribed, but that modifications and changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the invention.

Whatl claim is 1. The combination with a scale-beam, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined member movable in a plane substantiallyparallel to the beam and a movable member controlled thereby, saidmembers being adjustable one relatively to the other transversely to theincline and said incline varying progressively in the direction ofadjustment, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a scale-beam and its poise, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined member movable in a plane substantiallyparallel to the beam and a movable member controlled thereby, saidmembers being adjustable one relatively to the other transversely to theincline and said incline Varying progressively in the direction ofadjustment, and connections between the poise and inclined member,substantially as described.

3. The combination with a scale-beam and its poise, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined member movable in a plane substantiallyparallel to the beam and a movable member controlled thereby, saidmembers being adjustable one relatively to the othertransversely to theincline and said incline varying progressively in the direction ofadjustment, and connections between the poise and inclined member, saidconnections being loose to permit vertical play of the beam and poiserelatively to the inclined member, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a scale-beam, of price-computing mechanismcomprising, an inclined member movable in a plane substantially parallelto the beam and a movable member controlled thereby and adjustabletransversely to the incline, said incline varying progressively in thedirection of adjustment, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a scale-beam and its poise, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined member movable in aplane substantiallyparallel to the beam and a movable member controlled thereby andadjustable transversely to the incline, said incline varyingprogressively in the direction of adjustment, and connections betweenthe poise and inclined member, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a scale-beam and its poise, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined member movable in a plane substantiallyparallel to the beam and a movable member controlled thereby andadjustable transversely to the incline, said incline varyingprogressively in the direction of adjustment, and connections betweenthe poise and inclined member, said connections being loose to permitvertical play of the beam and poise relatively to the inclined member,substantially as described.

'7. The combination with a scale-beam and its poise, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined membermovableinaplane substantiallyparallel to the beam and a movable member controll'ed thereby, saidmembers being adjustable one relatively to the other transversely to theincline and said incline varying progressively in the direction ofadjustment, and connections between said poise and inclined membercomprising two pivoted jaws carried by the inclined member and a memberengaged thereby carried by the poise, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a scale-beam and its poise, of price-computingmechanism comprisingan inclined member movable in a plane substantiallyparallel to the beam and a movable member controlled thereby, saidmembers being adjustable one relatively to the other transversely to theincline and said incline varying progressively in the direction ofadjustment, connections between said poise and inclined membercomprising two pivoted jaws carried by the inclined member and a memberengaged thereby carried by the poise, and means for limiting thegripping movement of the jaws, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a scale-beam and its poise, of price-computingmechanism comprising a member movable in a plane substantially parallelto the beam and inclined in the direction of its movement and a movablemember controlled'bysaid inclined member, and connections between thepoise and inclined member whereby the two are caused to move together,substantially as described.

10. The combination with a scale-beam and its poise, of price-computingmechanism comprising a member movable in a plane sub stantially parallelto the beam and inclined in the direction of its movement and a movablemember controlled by said inclined member, and connections between thepoise and inclined member whereby the two are caused to move together,said connections being loose to permit vertical play of the beam andpoise relatively to the inclined member, sub stantially as described.

11. The combination with a scale-beam and its poise, of price-computingmechanism comprising an inclined member movablein a plane substantiallyparallel to the beam and a movable member controlled thereby, saidmembers being adjustable one relatively to the other transversely to theincline and said incline varying progressivelyin the direction ofadjustment, and connections between said poise and inclined membercomprising pivoted jaws 39 carried by the inclined member, and a pin 40carried by the poise and engaged by said jaws, substantially asdescribed.

12. The combination with a scale-beam and its poise, of price-computingmechanism comprisingan inclined member movable in a plane substantiallyparallel to the beam and a movable member controlled thereby, saidmembers being adjustable one relatively to the other transversely to theincline and said incline varying progressively in the direction ofadjustment,connections between said poise and inclined membercomprisingpivotedjaws 39 carried by the inclined member, a pin 40 carried by thepoise and engaged by said jaws, and limiting-stop 42,.substantially asdescribed.

13. The combination with a scalebeam and its poise, of price-computingmechanism eomprisinganinclinedmembermovablein a plane substantiallyparallel to the beam and a movable member cont-rolled thereby, andconnections between said poise and inclined member comprising pivotedjaws 39 carried by the inclined member and a pin 40 carried by the poiseand engaged by said jaws, substantially as described.

14:. The combination with a scale-bea1n,and its poise, ofprice-computing mechanism comprising an inclined member movable in aplane substantially parallel to the beam and a m ovable membercontrolled thereby, connections between said poise and inclined membercomprising pivoted jaws 39 carried by the inclined member, a pin 40carried by the poise and engaged by said jaws, and limiting-stop -12,substantially as described.

15. The combination with a scale-beam, of inclined member 14, rack 15,indicating devices actuated by the latter, and means for adjusting therack transversely to the inclined member, substantially as described.

16. The combination with a scale-beam, of inclined member 14,suitably-supported rack 15, indicating devices actuated by the latter,shaft 22, and connections between said shaft and the rack-supportconsisting of a cam groove 23 on one and a pin 2% on the other enteringsaid cam-groove, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a scale-beam, of inclined member 14, rack 15,guiding-sup port 20 therefor, shaft 22 and connections between saidshaft and support consisting of a cam-groove 23 on one and a pin 24: onthe other entering said cam-groove, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK L. FULLER.

Witnesses:

CHAS; E. RIORDON, J. J. KENNEDY.

